Startup Weekend to kickstart Pangasinan entrepreneurs

The Province of Pangasinan, wired by its quality human resources, potential IT locations and corporate assets, bolsters its entrepreneurial ecosystem by partaking in the first-ever Startup Weekend in Northern Luzon. Hosted by Pangasinan ICT Council, it debuts in Lingayen on November 6-8 at Narciso Ramos Sports and Civic Center.

Startup Weekend serves as a catalyst for individuals to share their ideas, explore opportunities, and take risks in a safe environment with access to proper tools.

Pangasinenses with different skillsets – primarily developers, coders, designers, business people, and students with technical background – are qualified to join the three-day event.

“The Provincial Government has always been supportive of events that showcase young Pangasinenses’ ideas and talents. Time has come for the young to co-create the future of our province that we envisioned for the next generation, their children and their children’s children. Let them excel through technology, let them be heard and be mentored through events like this,” says Pangasinan Governor Amado T. Espino, Jr.

The Information and Communications Technology Office of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-ICTO) also expressed support for the Startup Weekend which is part of a global movement to spawn fast-growing ICT businesses in the Philippines.

“A key facet of the Startup Weekend – and a central value for participants – is the spirit of complete collaboration and ownership. It shortens their way to success and eliminates early startup mistakes that inexperienced founders eventually encounter during the early phase of the business“, says Vanj Padilla, President of Pangasinan ICT Council (PICTC).

The mission

Participants embark on an intense 54-hour course which focuses on building from scratch a web or mobile application that could form the basis of a viable start-up business. No talk, all action.

Aspiring entrepreneurs get a minute to pitch their ideas before a vote is applied by a group. Contributors will split themselves among the selected projects to lend their skills in making the product. Teams will form organically, consolidate, and begin working. Curating the right mix of enthusiastic local participants is part of the magic of the Startup Weekend.

This experience shows how much can be achieved with limited time and resources. The fast pace requires teams to focus on the needs of the customer, and creating something that they actually want. It is common for teams to pivot to a new solution, or even a completely new idea after understanding their potential customers.

“We’re teaching skills through the lens of entrepreneurship, but we’re also trying to have communities build themselves. At Startup Weekend, participants should secure their idea, and have passion to pursue it. Logically, to execute those ideas, they should know who their target market is“, says Tzar Umang, the Chief Operating Officer of Yolanda’s Atrium Events Services, and one of the event’s mentors.

After spending the weekend testing the market, developing a business plan, and building a product, each team has five minutes to pitch their product to a panel of expert judges.

The winning team leaves with a handful of valuable prizes, including potentially meeting with venture capitalists who are interested in continuing development for their products. They will also be given the opportunity to compete nationally, and represent the country in the global scale.

Should you choose to accept the challenge to kickstart your business idea, learn some new skills or just be part of a fun filled weekend with a group of passionate forward thinking locals, then register today at bit.ly/swpangasinan.
For more information contact 09177894579 or 09085206811